A Louisville nonprofit is helping a local woman achieve her dreams by collecting supplies to send to her community in West Africa. “It’s been a long time coming,” said Aesha Ndao, owner of Aesha’s African Baskets. Ndao moved to Louisville in 2000 to attend college. Originally from Senegal, West Africa, he knew first hand what conditions are like there. Ndao worked for months making African baskets to sell and raise money to send back home. While at the 2023 World Festival, Denise Sears, the executive director of SOS, a Louisville nonprofit, saw her work. They immediately made a connection, resulting in Ndao receiving an unexpected email the next day. “My family and I have been doing this but on a very small level, helping our family back home and our community as much as we can. When Denise came , our dream just got bigger,” Ndao said. Sears asked if Ndao wanted to work together to send supplies to her community. It was inconvenient for Ndao. “The conditions are very bad. Women give birth on tables, not like a real bed. All the equipment is kind of rotted, rusted. This will bring a big change. It is like building a new hospital for them right now,” Ndao said. After months of planning, her dream came true on Tuesday morning. SOS received countless donations for Ndao’s cause, worth nearly $400,000. Dozens of people helped load everything from basins to IV poles, filling the 40-foot container. It will be shipped on Monday and will arrive in Senegal in a month. Ndao plans to be there to help unload it. “I know it’s going to be a big event when we unload that container back there. That’s the satisfaction I get out of it and you know you’re making their lives a little bit better. I can’t do everything, but at least I’m touching someone’s life and making life a little easier for them,” said Ndao. The donated supplies will help three hospitals in Senegal, reaching thousands in their community.
A Louisville nonprofit is helping a local woman achieve her dreams by collecting supplies to send to her community in West Africa.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Aesha Ndao, the owner of Aesha’s African Baskets.
Ndao moved to Louisville in 2000 to attend college. Originally from Senegal, West Africa, he knew first hand what conditions are like there. Ndao worked for months making African baskets to sell and raise money to send back home.
While at the 2023 World Festival, Denise Sears, the executive director of SOS, a Louisville nonprofit, saw her work. They immediately made a connection, resulting in Ndao receiving an unexpected email the very next day.
“My family and I have been doing this but on a very small level, helping our family back home and our community as much as we can. When Denise came, our dream became bigger,” Ndao said.
Sears asked if Ndao wanted to work together to send supplies to her community.
It was unthinkable for Ndao.
“The conditions are very bad. Women give birth on tables, not like a real bed. All the equipment is kind of rotten, rusted. This will bring a big change. It’s like we’re building a new hospital for them right now.” Ndao said.
After months of planning, her dream came true on Tuesday morning. SOS received countless donations for Ndao’s cause, worth nearly $400,000.
Dozens of people helped load everything from basins to IV poles, filling the 40-foot container. It will be shipped on Monday and will arrive in Senegal in a month. Ndao plans to be there to help unload it.
“I know it’s going to be a big event when we unload that container back there. That’s the satisfaction I get out of it, and you know you’re making their lives a little bit better. I can’t do everything, but at least I’m touching someone’s life and doing the their lives a little easier,” Ndao said.
The donated supplies will help three hospitals in Senegal, reaching thousands in their community.